From the Rolls-Royce experimental archive: a quarter of a million communications from Rolls-Royce, 1906 to 1960's. Documents from the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation (SHRMF).
Vehicle road test report detailing issues with braking, steering, suspension, and transmission.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 127\5\ scan0088 | |
| Date | 22th January 1942 guessed | |
| Foot brake pedal is heavy to operate. Position of hand brake lever is bad it is tucked away under the scuttle and one requires a telescopic arm to reach it. STEERING. When we first received this car the steering wobbled continuously from 0 to 52 MPH. with a particularly bad period from 30 to 40 MPH. The Michelin tyres were found badly out of balance. These were put right and the front wheel tow-in was 9/16", due to a bent steering tube, was re-set to ⅛". These modifications had the effect of slightly reducing the tendency to wobble right up the scale but pushed up the bad period to 40 to 50 MPH. We then fitted a pair of Avon tyres and this had the effect of further reducing the tendency to wobble without curing it. It is fairly evident that steering wobbles are inherent with this type of front suspension where the wheel operates in a vertical straight line. The steering lock is remarkably good. Column and front end shake good. SUSPENSION. When we received the car we considered it rode very hard. The Rear shock dampers of the friction type were found to have seized up solid, besides being loose in the frame. The dampers were dismantled, cleaned and reset at 25 lbs per sq/in. With this damper setting and type pressures set at 22 lbs front, 24 lbs rear, we still consider the ride to be much too hard, and "knobbly". From the drivers point of view one would not know that all four wheels were independantly sprung except perhaps for the total lack of any form of pitching. Whilst this type of ride may suit the speed fiend, for general work we would not give it any medals. TRANSMISSION. This type of transmission is very bad for " cloncking". At low speeds the knocks and bangs from the transmission are very objectionable and to avoid this, one naturally uses the gear box. The general road noise in the car is not good, being inferior to both the Austin and the Morris. Generally speaking we would not consider this to be a good car for the average person, but, it is no doubt appreciated by the sporting fraternity who do not mind general roughness in the - continued - | ||